MUFG Joins Ripple’s Global Payments Steering Group

MUFG’s banking arm The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU), the third largest bank in the world and largest bank in Japan, publicly announced today that it is joining Ripple’sGlobal Payments Steering Group (GPSG). As the first Japanese bank joining GPSG, MUFG will join Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Santander, Standard Chartered, Westpac Banking Corporation, Royal Bank of Canada and CIBC in overseeing the maintenance and enhancement of payment transaction rules and formalized standards for commercial use of Ripple’s network.

“We welcome MUFG, one of the largest and most advanced banksin the world, to the growing number of Ripple customers moving actual money across borders, instantly,” said Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO. “While many others continue to play in the sandbox, we’re thrilled MUFG has joined us in our mission to revolutionize payments globally.”

As one of the largest banks in the world, MUFG is continually looking to utilize fintech to improve customer experience and contribute toward global expansion of financial services. They’ve chosen to partner with Ripple to address the pain points of existing systems and challenges of cross-border payments, including delays, cost, and lack of visibility. Additionally, Ripple’s network is the only blockchain bankers’ network with defined rules, standards and governance for cross-border payments.

“We are pleased to join Ripple’s Global Payments Steering Group,” said Hirofumi Aihara, General Manager, MUFG Digital Innovation Division. “MUFG is working extensively in fintech to provide better services to our customers and society. Collaborating with other members of GPSG, MUFG will contribute to the creation of standards for Ripple’s network.”

We’re excited to welcome MUFG to our growing global community, and look forward to our ongoing work together in building the rules and governance of a completely modern payments network.